Old P&H welder?

O

Ordenrahl

Joined
Oct 16, 2015
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Looking for a welder to get me started with my shop. I am slowly acquiring tools, and would like a welder to build a frame for my forge and also convert a log splitter for Damascus down the line...

Found this welder for $250 on craigs list but I can't find anything about it online. Most everything is a 300 or 200 amp version.

Doespecially anyone know own about this old P&H 180AMP welder?
Harnischfeger P&H -180Amp AC-DC Arc Welde

http://orlando.craigslist.org/tls/6100139010.html

Harnischfeger P&H -180Amp AC-DC Arc Welder, model h18ut, 230 volt, 30 amperes, single phase only, 25 load volts, woks perfect, please text me at show contact info
 
Here are a couple photos

2hcdmya.jpg
 
I only see one picture... did you have any more? Can't say I'm familiar with the brand, though a lot of those older welders were built like tanks and should last darn near forever. There's really not much to them anyway, so as far as old arc welders go, one should work just about as well as another. I question whether it's both an AC and DC machine seeing just the front picture. Must AC/DC will have two different current ratings/ranges, as the DC will always be less than the AC ampacity. DC is a lot smoother and easier to weld with, so if given the option that's what most guys will prefer, though you may be looking at just an AC only machine. If that's the case, I'd probably offer a little less than asking price.
It looks like it has fairly long leads which is really nice if you have a larger shop.

FWIW, if that is in fact AC only, you can get a brand new 225 amp Lincoln AC buzz box for about that same price, and used, I've seen them anywhere from $50 to $150 for AC only. I scored a Lincoln AC/DC arc welder for $250 a few months back in pretty good shape as well, and see them at or around that price often.

If you have some clearer pics, or a pic of the back of the machine, it may be able to tell you more.
 
Have to agree with Andrew, if it was DC compatible, there would be another switch table for the DC current. DC is much more user friendly also than AC. I feel he is asking too much for an old AC only unit.
 
The post says AC/DC but one of my concerns is how little info Google will tell me about this welder. I can't find this model, every thing seems to be either a P&H 200Amp or 300Amp.

It may be better to hold out for a good Lincoln. What amperage was the Lincoln you picked up for $250?
 
I used to have one just like that one... It was so hard to weld with I threw it in the scrap bin at work. Very hard to get an arch started. The duty cycle is so low on them that any project that was more then a quick tack it would start to stop welding or not get any penetration.
If I remember right I was told they were the harbor freight version from Sears or Coast to Coast in the 80's.
 
Ordenrahl said:
The post says AC/DC but one of my concerns is how little info Google will tell me about this welder. I can't find this model, every thing seems to be either a P&H 200Amp or 300Amp.

It may be better to hold out for a good Lincoln. What amperage was the Lincoln you picked up for $250?
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's definitely an AC only welder. For $250, I'd definitely pass. The ratings on it are pretty consistent with entry level welders like the lincoln tombstone "buzz boxes". If you want to weld for more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time, you're gonna have to spend some dough on an industrial grade machine. That said, for home shop work, most guys don't need any more than 20% duty cycle, and 225amps AC (or the equivalent DC) is plenty, unless you're welding up bridges or skyscrapers in your garage. :D

This is the one I found local to me:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...KsrKaM5pr5ysBZRhuAYSHs1jlujLf5TOHIaAmAM8P8HAQ

225AC/125DC. I replaced the stinger and ground clamp for another $40 or so, and eventually I'd like some longer leads, but it's not a bad welder to start with/learn stick welding on.
I've also got a little 90amp harbor freight "MIG" welder (it's not mig, but a flux core wire welder), that I did the DC conversion on. It will actually put down a decent weld with the right wire. I think I paid $40 for that, and maybe another $40 to convert it, though honestly, if I had it do over, I'd probably just put the money towards a real flux core/mig compatible DC machine.
 
First clue is, its leads are not on plugs.
Thats a sure sign of WSO (welder shape object)
Very steep asking price, & Not worth having even if they gave it to you.
 
I like that Lincoln, most of what I see on craigs list is $90 junk or $500 "good" welders. I'm having trouble finding the $250 sweet spot of a decent used welder.

Between a welder and an anvil I really need some more craigs list karma...
 
I've got a realgear 140 mig from praxair brand new for $299. It's a clone of a lincoln 140 but uses tweeco parts. Even comes with regulator if you want to weld with gas instead of flux core wire. Haven't found anything I haven't been able to weld with it.
 
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